Renewi and VDL bring recycled plastics to the automotive industry

Renewi and VDL Parree have developed a value chain partnership in which end-of-life rigid plastics are recycled into a raw material for truck components. This marks the first time that a recycled plastic produced by Renewi has been used in a component for the automotive industry. The collaboration is ahead of the proposed European Circular Vehicles Regulation, which aims to encourage the use of recycled materials in new vehicles.

From end-of-life plastic to truck component

The partnership brings together several organisations across the value chain to reintroduce end-of-life plastics into the automotive industry. Renewi processes rigid plastics collected from businesses and municipalities into high-quality plastic granulates. The Compound Company then converts these into a plastic compound suitable for the intended application. VDL Parree, specialised in the production and assembly of high-quality plastic components, subsequently uses the material to manufacture truck parts, including cab components. These parts undergo extensive testing to ensure they meet stringent quality, safety and performance requirements.

While recycled plastics are still often used in less demanding applications, this collaboration demonstrates that Renewi’s recycled plastics can also meet the high quality standards required for use in vehicle components.

Jan-Pedro Vis, Director of Materials at Renewi, said: "In this partnership, end-of-life rigid plastics are given a new purpose in truck components that must comply with stringent quality requirements. This is only possible when every party in the value chain contributes its knowledge and expertise. For Renewi, this is an important milestone, as it marks the first application of our circular plastics in the automotive sector."

Pieter Melisse, Managing Director of VDL Parree, said: "Circularity requires more than just a suitable raw material. Production processes, quality controls and collaboration throughout the value chain must also be designed with circularity in mind. Together, we are demonstrating that recycled plastics can be suitable for technically demanding components. This creates opportunities for further scaling in the future."

A model for future applications

The partnership is ahead of the proposed new European Circular Vehicles Regulation, which seeks to stimulate the use of recycled materials in vehicles. While the legislation is still under development, Renewi, VDL and their value chain partners are already demonstrating that circular materials can be used in vehicle components today. The knowledge and experience gained through this collaboration can help support the wider adoption of recycled materials across the European automotive industry in the future.